CN103201653B - Pinned-contact, oscillating liquid-liquid lens and imaging systems - Google Patents

Pinned-contact, oscillating liquid-liquid lens and imaging systems Download PDF

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Publication number
CN103201653B
CN103201653B CN201180036939.8A CN201180036939A CN103201653B CN 103201653 B CN103201653 B CN 103201653B CN 201180036939 A CN201180036939 A CN 201180036939A CN 103201653 B CN103201653 B CN 103201653B
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China
Prior art keywords
liquid
substrate
drop
chamber
passage
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CN201180036939.8A
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CN103201653A (en
Inventor
阿米尔·H·希尔莎
伯纳德·A·马卢因
迈克尔·J·福格尔
成丽丽
约瑟夫·D·奥列斯
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
    • G02B3/12—Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses
    • G02B3/14—Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses of variable focal length
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
    • B29D11/00009—Production of simple or compound lenses
    • B29D11/00432—Auxiliary operations, e.g. machines for filling the moulds
    • B29D11/00461—Adjusting the refractive index, e.g. after implanting
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/4998—Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

An oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid drop is disposed within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and including a chamber. The liquid drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid drop, and the liquid lens further includes a driver for oscillating the liquid drop within the channel.

Description

Fix contact and the Liquid-liquid camera lens of vibration and imaging system
About the statement of federal funding research
The present invention makes under the support of the defense advanced research project office (DARPA) of U.S. Department of Defense according to HR001-09-1-0052 contract.Therefore, U.S. government can have some right in the present invention.
The cross reference of related application
This application claims the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/368 submitted on July 27th, 2010, the right of 020, is incorporated herein the full content of this application by way of reference.
Technical field
The present invention relates in general to adaptive optics, and relates more specifically to liquid lens and use imaging system and the formation method of this liquid lens.
Background technology
Because the camera lens at mechanically mobile cameras is until delay intrinsic in image focal point alignment procedures, a therefore optical focus normally process slowly.Although liquid is considered to the peculiar selection of camera lens material, but for needing the application of the adaptive optics of response fast or needing application that is small-sized or that have cost-benefit optical device to there is interest to liquid lens.Liquid lens advantageously avoid the weight relevant to mobile solid lenses to be increased and manufactures complicacy.The interface of liquid lens has good optical property because of surface tension, in sub-milliliter magnitude, surface tension phase force of gravity in the highest flight, and provides almost Perfect spherical and optics is smoothed to the interface of molecular level.
In the radio communication of the recent level of consumption, the surge of image and multimedia use has evoked the pursuit to light-duty and durable adaptive optics.But, extended to biomedical sensing and imaging the needing to surmount mobile phone and field camera of this camera lens, aerial and underwater tool, advanced technology for aspects such as the microscopy of micro-manufacture and self-adaptation photoetching for the autonomous type scouted and defend.
Summary of the invention
In an aspect, overcome the shortcoming of prior art by providing liquid lens and additional advantage is provided.This liquid lens comprises substrate and comprises the drop of first liquid, and wherein substrate is included at least one passage extending through substrate between the first surface of substrate and second surface.Drop be arranged in extend through substrate at least one passage in the middle of a passage in, and comprise the first droplet part and the second droplet part, first droplet part has from the first outstanding capillary surface of the first surface of substrate, and the second droplet part has from the second outstanding capillary surface of the second surface of substrate.First droplet part and the second droplet part are by a described expanding channels.Liquid lens also comprises shell, and shell surrounds substrate at least in part and shell comprises chamber.A described passage in the middle of at least one passage extending through substrate is positioned at the chamber of shell.Second liquid is arranged in chamber, and second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in chamber with the drop comprising first liquid.There is provided driver to vibrate to the drop extended through in a described passage of substrate.
In one aspect of the method, provide a kind of imaging system, it comprises liquid lens and at least one imageing sensor.Liquid lens comprises substrate and comprises the drop of first liquid, and wherein substrate is included at least one passage extending through substrate between the first surface of substrate and second surface.Drop be arranged in extend through substrate at least one passage in the middle of a passage in, and comprise the first droplet part and the second droplet part, first droplet part has from the first outstanding capillary surface of the first surface of substrate, and the second droplet part has from the second outstanding capillary surface of the second surface of substrate.First droplet part and the second droplet part are by a described expanding channels.Liquid lens also comprises shell, and shell surrounds substrate at least in part and shell comprises chamber, and the described passage in the middle of at least one passage wherein extending through substrate is positioned at the chamber of shell.Second liquid is arranged in chamber, and second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in chamber with the drop comprising first liquid.There is provided driver to vibrate to the drop extended through in a described passage of substrate.At least one imaging sensor is coupled at least one image path of the first droplet part through the drop in a described passage and the second droplet part, takes image for the first droplet part of the drop by vibration and the second droplet part.
In a further aspect, a kind of formation method is provided, it comprises step: vibrate to the drop of liquid lens, wherein liquid lens comprises substrate, substrate defines the passage extended between its first surface and second surface, drop is placed in passage, drop comprises the first droplet part and the second droplet part, first droplet part comprises from the first outstanding capillary surface of the first surface of substrate, second droplet part comprises from the second outstanding capillary surface of the second surface of substrate, wherein, first droplet part and the second droplet part of drop pass through expanding channels, liquid lens also comprises shell, shell surrounds substrate at least in part and shell comprises chamber, a passage is positioned at chamber, and chamber comprises second liquid, second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in chamber with the drop comprising first liquid, and wherein, the at least one that oscillation step comprises to the first droplet part or the second droplet part applies oscillation force to vibrate to the drop in passage, and take at least one image through the image path of the first droplet part of drop or at least one of the second droplet part.
In in another, provide a kind of method manufacturing liquid lens, it comprises step: obtain substrate, substrate is non-wetting relative to drop; At least one passage extending to second surface from the first surface of substrate is provided in a substrate; In a passage in the middle of at least one passage extending through substrate, providing package is containing the drop of first liquid, drop comprises the first droplet part and the second droplet part, first droplet part has from the first outstanding capillary surface of the first surface of substrate, second droplet part has from the second outstanding capillary surface of the second surface of substrate, and the first droplet part and the second droplet part are by a described expanding channels; There is provided the shell comprising chamber, chamber closes the described passage extending through substrate, and the first surface of substrate is conducive to the first chamber portion limiting chamber, and the second surface of substrate is conducive to the second chamber portion limiting chamber; In the first chamber portion second liquid being placed in chamber and the second chamber portion, second liquid and drop directly contact or indirect contact in chamber.
Other feature and advantage are achieved by technology of the present invention.Other embodiments of the invention and aspect have been described in detail in this article and have been considered to a part for claimed invention.
Accompanying drawing explanation
In the claims at the conclusion of the specification, one or more aspect of the present invention is exemplarily highlighted and explicitly call for protection.By hereafter made by reference to the accompanying drawings detailed description, above and other objects of the present invention, feature and advantage are apparent, in the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1A is the cross-sectional illustration of an embodiment of Liquid-liquid camera lens according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
Figure 1B is the exploded isometric view showing the assembling of the Liquid-liquid camera lens of Figure 1A according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
The drop that Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B shows the Liquid-liquid camera lens embodiment of the Figure 1A according to one or more aspect of the present invention moves in response to the operation of driver, wherein Fig. 2 A shows the second droplet part with the second capillary surface given prominence to from second substrate surface enlargedly, and Fig. 2 B shows the first droplet part with the first capillary surface given prominence to from substrate first surface enlargedly;
Fig. 3 electromagnetic signal that to be one or more aspect according to the present invention dripped by the ferrofluid put on the right side of diagram lens construction and the fixing contact that drives and the sequential of the Liquid-liquid camera lens of vibration;
Fig. 4 A is the schematic diagram that one or more aspect according to the present invention adopts an embodiment of the imaging system of vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens, and shows the imaging to the object be positioned in focus;
Fig. 4 B shows the embodiment (camera such as, in phone) that one or more aspect according to the present invention comprises the encapsulation imaging system of vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens;
Fig. 4 C shows the encapsulation imaging system obtained according to the line 4C-4C along Fig. 4 B of one or more aspect of the present invention, and shown therein is another embodiment of the imaging system adopting vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens;
Fig. 4 D shows another embodiment (such as, scanning optical microscope) comprising the imaging system of vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 5 A shows the result of the optical model for the Liquid-liquid camera lens that vibrates according to one or more aspect of the present invention in the mode of chart, and the object distance of focusing is shown with black curve, wherein represent the corresponding depth of field with gray shade, and two targets are placed near the limit of focus scanning, and this limit dotted line represents;
Fig. 5 B shows the experimental data obtained by analyzing the sharpness of the image utilized captured by the vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens (object lens as optical series) of two targets marked in Fig. 5 A according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 6 A is the partial illustration of the Liquid-liquid lens construction according to one or more aspect of the present invention, and wherein the direction of gravity (g) is shown as from top to bottom;
Fig. 6 B is the partial illustration of the Liquid-liquid camera lens of Fig. 6 A according to one or more aspect of the present invention, wherein makes the directional steering of gravity (g) be shown as from right to left;
Fig. 7 is the cross-sectional illustration of another embodiment of Liquid-liquid camera lens according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 8 A is the partial illustration comprising the Liquid-liquid camera lens of lens substrate according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 8 B is the partial illustration comprising the alternative embodiment of the Liquid-liquid camera lens of lens substrate according to one or more aspect of the present invention;
Fig. 8 C is the partial illustration comprising another embodiment of the Liquid-liquid camera lens of lens substrate according to one or more aspect of the present invention; And
Fig. 8 D is the chart that the relative droplet size of resonant frequency of the Liquid-liquid camera lens shown in Fig. 8 A to Fig. 8 C is shown according to one or more aspect of the present invention, and inserts the frequency response that test that figure indicates each structure shown in Fig. 8 A to Fig. 8 C records; And
Fig. 9 is the process flow diagram of an embodiment of the formation method of employing vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens according to an aspect of the present invention.
Embodiment
Disclosed herein is the example of the focusing greatly accelerated, and wherein, is not by lens moving to final position, but makes the shape continuous oscillation of described camera lens, and therefore make its focal length continuous oscillation.In oscillation period, focal length develops in its four corner value, and synchronous high-speed sensor is used to the picture rich in detail taking different focus place.Experimentally achieves the focusing within the scope of 0.01 second, and it is less than oscillation period.This is achieved by making the system of employing little (such as, mm in size) liquid lens vibrate under its resonant frequency.
More specifically, what be described herein by way of example is the Liquid-liquid camera lens with vibration focal length, and it is by capturing image can take any plane of delineation in given range with vibration " synchronously ".By vibration camera lens, the task of changing focal length is transformed into the electronic timing of image taking effectively from mechanical handling, the electronic timing of image taking can significantly be realized quickly.For to drive in resonance place and with the high fidelity imaging having illustrated 100Hz frequency for fixing osculatory (the pinned contact line) liquid lens that is the milliliter magnitude of feature.Theoretical prediction shows: the camera lens reduced by size makes remarkable faster response become possibility.
Although some strategy has used barrier film to carry out receiving fluids camera lens, but interested be especially that liquid lens is only subject to the constraint of himself surface tension, mainly because barrier film is to the adverse effect of picture quality and producing the manufacture challenge in evenly lasting barrier film.But, even if surface tension constraint strategy is also inappropriate in practice, because aperture is restricted to several millimeters and evaporates after a few minutes by gravity prevent stable operation.
For addressing these problems, disclosed herein is Liquid-liquid lens construction and imaging system and the method using this Liquid-liquid lens construction, and it is by realizing at least up to the aperture of the stable operation of 30Hz, centimetres, orientation independent sum long-time stability and alleviate the shortcoming of prior liquid camera lens.Liquid-liquid camera lens is formed in the following manner: make the first high refractive index liquid of two droplets by substrate (such as, plate) in first passage (such as, circular hole) be coupled and the second liquid of such as water and so on of providing package coaming plate and liquid lens, wherein lens system is closed by shell (such as, clear acrylic plastic casing).By making the density (ρ of the droplet of first liquid d) with the density (ρ of the surrounding liquid of such as water and so on w) match, capillary length is (with (ρ d-ρ w) -1/2proportional) can such as, to be increased to centimetre from millimeter (for the typical liquid gas-liquid camera lens, the hydroscope head in air).
In order to cause the change of droplet curvature (in order to realize focal length variations), expect to activate closed lens system in non-intruding mode.In order to this object, provide one or more second channel (or opening) in a substrate, in second channel, each all holds the inconsistent ferrofluid of two droplets.Utilize the relatively little electromagnetic driver being placed in housing exterior, when moving in the first and second chamber portions dropping in the fixed volume on the either side of substrate when ferrofluid is little, ferrofluid drips and the first drop (that is, liquid lens) can be made mobile as " liquid piston ".Can to electromagnetic driver (such as, there are 150 circle electromagnets of iron core) provide oscillatory voltage signals (such as, amplitude is 3 volts) to produce oscillating magnetic field, the vibratory movement that oscillating magnetic field and then generation ferrofluid drip, and produce the vibratory movement of drop (that is, liquid lens) subsequently.In brief, single electromagnetism can be used for upsetting Single Iron magnetic fluid and drips (the ferrofluid droplet comprising two couplings), and wherein capillary (that is, elastic-like power) effect becomes restoring force.
Below with reference to the accompanying drawings, accompanying drawing not drawn on scale, and be simplified for ease of understanding, the same reference numerals that wherein all different accompanying drawings use refers to same or similar parts.
Figure 1A illustrates the embodiment summarizing the liquid lens structure represented by 100 according to one or more aspect of the present invention.Liquid lens structure 100(its be alternatively called Liquid-liquid lens construction in this article) comprise substrate 110, substrate 110 has the first relative first type surface 111 and the second first type surface 112.Be non-wetting relative to camera lens and driver liquid when substrate 110 exists the liquid of such as water and so on around, and comprise the hydrophobic material of such as anodized aluminium and so in one example.Substrate 110 itself can be formed by such non-wetting material, or can be coated with non-wetting material, but also need not apply in one or more passages (or opening) described in this article.In the example shown in the series of figures, substrate 110 is included in the first passage 113 and second channel 114 that extend through substrate 110 between the first first type surface 111 and second surface 112.These first passages 113 and second channel 114 only show exemplarily.In other embodiments, the array of multiple passage can be provided for liquid lens part or the driver portion of described Liquid-liquid lens system herein.Such as, in other embodiments, multiple passage can be provided for the liquid lens part of this structure or driver portion or its both, each passage has common lateral cross-sectional area (such as required, common diameter) or there is different lateral cross-sectional area (such as, different-diameter).By providing the passage with varying cross-section area, or the liquid of different amount is given prominence to from the passage of same cross-sectional area, the array of coupling droplet can realize different focus characteristics or different driving characteristic.
Drop 120 is placed in the first passage 113 of substrate 110.Exemplarily, each passage (the camera lens part as liquid lens system) holding drop can comprise the cylindrical hole (or boring) running through substrate, and wherein each drop is a transparency liquid, such as, and silicone oil.But those skilled in the art will be noted that: other liquid is alternatively used as liquid lens.Because substrate 110 is non-wetting, therefore drop 120 indiffusion on substrate, and hereafter being described by shell 140() and the chamber that limits of substrate 110 in drop 120, second liquid 130(such as, water) between Liquid-liquid-solid contact line be fixed on edge 121 place of first passage 113.Drop 120 is characterised in that and comprises the first droplet part 201(see Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B) and the second droplet part 202, first droplet part 201 comprises from the first outstanding capillary surface of the first surface 111 of substrate 110, and second droplet part 202(Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B) comprise from the second outstanding capillary surface of the second surface 112 of substrate 110.In this embodiment, drop and second liquid are for directly contacting and be inconsistent, wherein the first and second capillary surfaces of drop 120 be the liquid of Liquid-liquid camera lens disclosed herein to liquid surface surface, and as mentioned above because surface tension and spherical form in almost Perfect.First droplet part 201 of drop 120 is directly connected (that is, interconnecting) with the second droplet part 202 by the main body of liquid part being placed in the drop 120 in the first passage 113 of substrate 110.
The relative curvature of droplet part produces the power of elastic-like power, and what be used in drop 120 along with masterpiece makes drop 120 become nature oscillator qualitatively.According to an aspect of the present invention, provable: drop 120 can be driven in phase for certain parameter scope, make the shape of droplet part 201,202 be spherical in essence and be therefore suitable for optical device.In addition, force liquid lens to be in system resonance to allow to make vibratory movement sustainable with the input of very little energy.Fixing osculatory by utilizing non-wetting substrate can make the loss be associated with dynamic osculatory, glutinousness or other factors minimize.In addition, vibration is made to occur with the time scale of capillary action and inertia balance (relative with glutinousness) and length dimension.The free-running frequency of liquid lens and the radius R of camera lens -3/2proportional, and therefore, utilize the camera lens of modest size can obtain the response of very high frequency.
As described in, the diagram Liquid-liquid lens construction 100 of Figure 1A also comprises shell 140, be arranged in the chamber that limited by shell 140 in second liquid 130 and driver 150.In one embodiment, this chamber comprises the first chamber portion 131 and the second chamber portion 132, and each the equal essence in these two chamber portions is filled with second liquid 130.In one embodiment, shell 140 comprises diapire, front and rear two walls, two sidewalls and top (or lid), and described top (or lid) is removable to allow the inside entering shell, as shown in Figure 1B.In one embodiment, shell 140 is transparent shells, wherein sidewall be configured with ledge 142 with by base plate supports and keep in the enclosure.
In one embodiment, driver 150 is configured to Noninvasive, indirectly fluctuating liquid drop 120 between the first chamber portion 131 and the second chamber portion 132.As an example, driver 150 can comprise the ferrofluid be arranged in second channel 114 and drip 151 and electromagnetic driver 152, and second channel 114 extends between first first type surface 111 and the second first type surface 112 of substrate 110.Pass through example, the feature that ferrofluid drips 151 can be to comprise the first droplet part 210(see Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B) and the second droplet part 211(see Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B), first droplet part 210 comprises from the first outstanding capillary surface of the first surface 111 of substrate 110, and the second droplet part 211 comprises from the second outstanding capillary surface of the second surface 112 of substrate 110.The first and second capillary surfaces that ferrofluid drips 151 are the liquid-liquid interface surfaces in disclosed Liquid-liquid lens construction.First droplet part 210 drips the main body of liquid part of 151 with the second droplet part 211 by the ferrofluid be arranged in the second channel 114 of substrate 110 and be directly connected (that is, interconnecting).
Electromagnetic driver 152(such as, there are 150 circle electromagnets of iron core) produce oscillating magnetic field, oscillating magnetic field and then produce the vibratory movement that ferrofluid drips 151, and namely (via incoercible second liquid 130) produce drop 120(subsequently, liquid lens) vibratory movement.Drip 120 as liquid lens, the relative curvature that ferrofluid drips 151 produces the power of elastic-like power, along with masterpiece be used in ferrofluid drip 151 make ferrofluid drip 151 to become nature oscillator qualitatively.Ferrofluid drips 151 and is used as " liquid piston ", thus makes second liquid 130 alternately mobile in the first chamber portion 131 and the second chamber portion 132 when ferrofluid drips vibration, therefore drives liquid lens to drip 120.In the illustrated embodiment, single electromagnetic driver 152(is adopted to pass through example) drip 151 to upset Single Iron magnetic fluid, wherein capillary action is restoring force.But illustrate as hereafter explained further, multiple electromagnetic driver can be used for controlling the vibration that ferrofluid drips 151 more energetically.In addition, in other is implemented, multiple second channel 114 can be provided, there is common lateral cross-sectional area (such as, common diameter) or different lateral cross-sectional area (such as, different-diameter).By providing multiple second channels 114 with varying cross-section area, or the ferrofluid of different amount is dripped giving prominence to from passage, the different driving characteristic of liquid lens system can being realized, as hereafter explained explanation further.
Those skilled in the art will be noticed by description provided herein: the shape (particularly the upper and lower interface of drop) of drop 120 is continuous print, or by ferrofluid drip 151 continuously or interrupted oscillation change continuously or off and on via incoercible motion of around second liquid 130, produce the self-adaptation liquid lens that can be used for focusing on incident light 101 thus.
Figure 1B shows one or more aspect according to the present invention for assembling an embodiment of Liquid-liquid lens construction 100.It should be noted that this manufacturing structure and method provide by means of only example.Manufacture process can comprise:
The first passage 113 of substrate 110 and second channel 114 is made to become wet to guarantee that each liquid in those passages is by humidity in advance.In order to realize this point, clean with corresponding first liquid (in first passage 113) or ferrofluid (in second channel 114) passage running through substrate.In this process, the first first type surface 111 of substrate 110 and the second first type surface 112 not with any one fluid contact, because if liquid cleans the outside of passage, then make fixedly to become difficulty.Make drying substrates, leave remaining liq (only a small amount of liquid should in arbitrary passage) simultaneously, when using oil, substrate can not bone dry.
Then, make shell 140 fill full inconsistent second fluid 130(see Figure 1A), and also fill full second fluid 130 above ledge 142 in two sidewalls of shell 140.It should be noted that the whole chamber of filling shell is acceptable, what know is that second fluid will overflow when part is increased to Liquid-liquid lens construction.
Then, substrate 110 is placed in the shell of liquid filling, wherein keeps substrate to guarantee not retained bubble under substrate at a certain angle.Substrate to be placed on flat ledge 142 and to be fixed to ledge 142, thus guarantees that inconsistent second liquid surrounds substrate.
Next, syringe can be used for starting to fill first passage 113 with first liquid.By making syringe tip end in contact to passage and starting, until cross diameter to be fully formed capillary surface around injecting fluid while of circumference operation.After this occurs, can by keeping syringe tip transfixion and inject a fluid in post carrying out filling step.Then, drip for ferrofluid and repeat this process.
Be fixed in order to ensure often pair of coupling droplet, droplet must overcharge the end exceeding passage.If all regions are not fixed, then make syringe tip carry out moving (not increasing more fluid) around passage rim in circus movement mode, equally not with the first first type surface or second major surface contacts of substrate 110.
After the fixing foundation of one group of coupling droplet, volume can set.Such as, by using the measurement to syringe, or by visual inspection, the volume of each coupling droplet can set.For the visual inspection of volume, obtain the height (h) of each droplet from profile, owing to knowing the radius (a) of passage, and utilize the formula V=1/6 π h(a of spherical crown 2+ h 2), therefore can determine volume (such as, using camera and LabView to implement).
Next be that same steps is dripped to set up ferrofluid.
After two groups of coupling droplets are filled and fix, add inconsistent second liquid (that is, surrounding liquid) subsequently, not upset coupling droplet, until reach the condition of overcharging (convex meniscus) in shell.
Finally, can the top 141 of shell 140 be fixed on shell, such as, by top 141 being positioned at a certain angle on shell not increase bubble to lens system downwards, and make inconsistent second liquid (that is, surrounding liquid) mobile when it seals.Top 141 is attached the balance for reaching shell, to form fluid-tight sealed chamber in the enclosure.
As described in, Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B illustrates the operation of the pancratic Liquid-liquid lens construction 100 according to one or more aspect of the present invention.In operation, when electromagnetic driver 152 is in magnetized state 220(shown in the oscillator signal putting on electromagnetic driver 152) under time, the first droplet part 210 that ferrofluid drips 151 has larger volume (as shown in Figure 2 A) in the first chamber portion 131 of shell 140, and when driver signal fail 221 time (Fig. 2 B), inertia and surface tension make the second droplet part 211 that ferrofluid drips 151 in the second chamber portion 132, become comparatively large, as shown in Figure 2 B.When electromagnetic driver work with ferrofluid is dripped 151 be operated to shown in Fig. 2 A degree time, incoercible second liquid 130 operate to force more first liquid in drop 120 enter in the second chamber portion 132 of shell 140 extend the second droplet part 202.This so focusing incident light 101 in produce comparatively long-focus.Under contrary condition, namely most of first liquid is in the first droplet part 201 in the first chamber portion 131 of shell 140, obtains comparatively short focus, as shown in Figure 2 B.By this way, the focal length of drop 120 drips vibration along with ferrofluid and changes continuously, this so that the refraction of incident light 101 is changed, and therefore make focus change, thus the ability of the self-adaptation focal length in liquid lens be provided.
What Fig. 3 showed Liquid-liquid camera lens disclosed herein can operation example.It should be noted that in structure described herein, Triple-contact line (that is, Liquid-liquid-solid contact line) is fixed on the periphery place running through each passage (or opening) that substrate is formed.These fixing osculatory eliminate the glutinousness loss be associated with the osculatory that moves forward and backward run in other self-adaptation liquid lens strategies many.But, be in by driving this device the total efficiency that system resonance can improve device.In the example of fig. 3, this system is vibration under resonance, and drop 120(is such as, silicone fluid camera lens) motion and transient shape be subject to the control that ferrofluid drips 151, wherein water (not shown) is around two in closed system group coupling droplet.In this example, the diameter of the first and second droplet passages is 5mm, and is subject to the driving being less than 5 volts (peak-to-peak values).When Fig. 3 consider, the liquid lens system comprising ambient water (not shown) illustrates resonance behavior at 8.6Hz place, and Fig. 3 shows a complete cycle.
Liquid-liquid lens construction disclosed herein can in conjunction with and in various imaging system.
Fig. 4 A shows and adopts vibration Liquid-liquid lens construction 100(as above described by composition graphs 1A to Fig. 3) entirety by an embodiment of 400 imaging systems represented.As described in, Liquid-liquid lens construction 100 comprises substrate 110, substrate 110 comprise run through substrate containing at least one drop 120(be used as liquid lens) at least one first passage, and containing at least one ferrofluid drip 151(be convenient to drive liquid lens) at least one second channel, as described in this article.Liquid-liquid lens construction also comprises and limits the shell 140 of sealed chamber, and sealed chamber comprises the first chamber portion 131 of the opposite side being positioned at substrate and the second chamber portion 132, two chamber portions are all filled with second liquid, such as, and water.Substrate is non-wetting, and drop 120 and ferrofluid drip the edge that 151 are fixed on their the respective passages running through substrate 110.
In the example of Fig. 4 A, imaging system 400 also comprises controller 410, such as comprise general object computer control 410, it is provided with (such as) logical circuit drips the vibration of 151 to control ferrofluid and therefore controls the vibration of the drop 120 of Liquid-liquid lens construction 100, and controls the shooting to one or more focusedimage via imageing sensor 420.It should be noted that, in this example, two electromagnetic drivers 152,152' are alignedly adopted above and below ferrofluid drips 151, with by controlling the motion that ferrofluid drips to coupling droplet generation order pulling force, thus make top side volume become comparatively large or make bottom side volume become comparatively large, illustrate as explained above.This so change camera lens drop and enter outstanding volume in the first chamber portion 131 or the second chamber portion 132.By so making camera lens drop 120 move, handle the radius of the curvature of coupling droplet, the focal length of radius-of-curvature and then change object 430.By imageing sensor 420 being placed in the side of liquid lens, and optional optical parts 425 being placed in opposite side, the object 430 being in various position can be focused on.
It should be noted that, in the example presented in the figure, imageing sensor 420 is placed in shell 140(in one embodiment for transparent shell (or shell)) top, and with through drop 120(particularly, the first vibration droplet part 201 and the second droplet part 202 through drop 120) image path aim at.In addition, image path through shell 140 and any additional optical 425(such as, high-aperture lenses), additional optical 425 can use together with vibration liquid lens described herein.The imaging system produced has the focal length in limited range, wherein can take the object being positioned at this scope in scan period.It should be noted that imageing sensor 420 can comprise any suitable imaging device.In one example, imageing sensor is a part for digital camera or video camera.
As mentioned above, in the optical system with vibration focal length as shown in Figure 4 A, the task of focusing changes.Be not the position of camera lens handling solid shape, but the timing of image record is by synchronous with the vibration of camera lens, and takes pictures in time interval during system focusing.Use the high-speed camera of today easily can implement swift electron timing.Result is: self-adaptation camera lens is significantly more faster than the Mechanical Moving of existing optical device.
The hunting speed of liquid lens described herein is faster than oscillation period.Such as, by with the resonant frequency drive system of system, the interface of camera lens can be made to keep spherical, and oscillation amplitude is maximized.The combination of vibration focal length lens and high-speed camera additionally provides the ability of three-dimensional (3-D) imaging.Such as, the micro objective based on vibration camera lens can carry out rapid scanning at investigation sample interior different depth place.High-speed camera will obtain enough images to produce 3-D image by deconvoluting within single lens oscillation period.A kind of like this system also obtains 3-D microscope film by with the frame rate equal with camera lens oscillation rate.As an example, EX-F1 high-speed camera (being introduced to the market by Casio) uses together with vibration liquid lens described herein.
Fig. 4 B and Fig. 4 C shows at phone 450(such as, phone camera) in the imaging system of Fig. 4 A implemented.As shown in the partial cross section view of Fig. 4 C, Liquid-liquid lens construction 100 can be placed between imageing sensor 420 and optional optical parts 425 in one embodiment.Namely ferrofluid drips the motion of 151 and drop 120(subsequently, liquid lens) motion caused (in this example) by single electromagnetic driver 152.
By further example, Liquid-liquid lens construction as described in this article is by the microscope 470 that is used for as shown in Figure 4 D.In this imaging system, Liquid-liquid lens construction 100 is placed in eyepiece 471(or imageing sensor) and object lens (comprising optics 425) between.By causing drop 120(namely, liquid lens) the change of focal length, viewer 472(or, alternatively, be automated imaging sensor) the various degree of depth of destination object 430 can be scanned.
For supporting to analyze, the optical property of the Liquid-liquid camera lens of centimetres as described in this article is assessed.Particularly, the result of the theoretical optics model (there is in optical series additional static element) for the Liquid-liquid camera lens that vibrates is obtained, as shown in Figure 5A.The object distance of focusing is shown by black curve 500, and wherein the corresponding depth of field appears dimmed 501.Two targets be placed in focusing range scanning extreme 502,503 near.In this chart, by the black curve 500 of reality, the object distance focused on during single oscillation period is shown.
Fig. 5 B illustrates the experimental data obtained by analyzing the sharpness of the image via Liquid-liquid lens construction shooting as described herein.Particularly, data are obtained by placing Liquid-liquid camera lens as the object lens of the optical series of determined two targets 502,503 of Fig. 5 A.The complete out-phase of utmost sharpness of two objects, curve 505 corresponds to the object at 503 places, and curve 506 corresponds to the object at 502 places, and this is as expected from model.
Fig. 6 A and Fig. 6 B shows the unchangeability of the Liquid-liquid camera lens with different gravity orientation.In fig. 6, Liquid-liquid lens construction illustrates the optical axial having and be parallel to gravitational vector (g) direction, and Fig. 6 B shows the Liquid-liquid lens construction of the optical axial had perpendicular to gravitational vector (g) orientation.By keeping gravity Bond number B 0< 1, surface tension will be preponderated relative to gravity.Therefore, droplet can be made to keep their spherical form, and do not consider the direction of gravity.In Fig. 6 A and Fig. 6 B, local illustrates described Liquid-liquid lens system, comprises having drop 120(and being used as liquid lens) and ferrofluid drip 151(as driver) substrate 110.Illustrate as explained above, two include the coupling droplet with the first and second droplet parts, and the first and second droplet parts extend to above and below the first and second first type surfaces of substrate 110 respectively.Should construct, from the maximum deviation measured by even (spherical) radius of curvature, 1% is less than for two kinds of situations shown in Fig. 6 A and Fig. 6 B.The unchangeability that can strengthen further for gravity orientation by making the fluid density used in Liquid-liquid lens system mate.
By further example, Fig. 7 shows the Liquid-liquid lens construction 100 of Figure 1A to Fig. 3, and it has two electromagnetic drivers 152, the 152' of the imaging system embodiment of Fig. 4 A.This Liquid-liquid lens construction is two force structures, drip 151 comprising ferrofluid and the coupling ferrofluid droplet taking the second channel in substrate 110 be subject to being arranged in ferrofluid drip above and below electromagnetic driver 152,152' control.Particularly, the voltage of out-phase 180 ° each other can be provided to drip vibration to order about ferrofluid to electromagnetic driver 152,152', and then by the corresponding movement of the first chamber portion 131 of filling liquid-liquid lens structure and incoercible immersion liquid 130 of the second chamber portion 132 and namely the vibration of being dripped by ferrofluid is passed to drop 120(, liquid lens).Result is the self-adaptation liquid lens controllably focusing on incident light 101, as described in this article.
Along with the interest growing to Internet video, imaging rate Given Graph image planes being realized to 30 frames per second will be interested.When droplet vibrates, each image surface can be focused twice (when droplet focuses on once towards during object move, and focusing on once when it is advanced away from object).Therefore, be high expectations more than the system resonance of 15Hz.A kind of mode strengthening the resonant frequency of Liquid-liquid lens system makes the effective elasticity power in system hardening.Because surface tension (in liquid lens and driver portion) is leading elastic force, therefore increase capillary effect (passing through droplet) and will the resonant frequency of whole system be increased.Reduce camera lens size and may not reach re-set target, therefore carrying out activating with the array of less driver is a possible solution.
Fig. 8 A to Fig. 8 C illustrates three kinds of different substrates (that is, substrate 110(Fig. 8 A), substrate 110'(Fig. 8 B) and substrate 110 " (Fig. 8 C)), it can be used in Liquid-liquid lens construction as described in this article.
In fig. 8 a, substantially identical with above in conjunction with described in Figure 1A to Fig. 7 of substrate 110, wherein first passage 113 and second channel 114 are disposed through substrate 110 and form to hold each coupling droplet that drop 120 and ferrofluid drip 151, as shown in Figure 8 A.By example, the passage 113 in three substrates of Fig. 8 A to Fig. 8 C has 5mm aperture (and nondimensionalization volume V/V sph=0.5, wherein V sphthe spheroid volume that diameter is identical with hole) 5mm aperture passage.
In the fig. 8b, three second channel 114' are shown, the ferrofluid of the coupling that its accommodation three is different drips 151'.In the example of Fig. 8 C, seven second channels 114 " be arranged on substrate 110 " in, it drips 151 for holding seven different ferrofluids ".By example, in Fig. 8 A, the radius of passage 114 can be the radius of passage 114' in 2.5mm, Fig. 8 B can be 1.5mm, and passage 114 in Fig. 8 C " radius can be 1.25mm.
The frequency response (for often kind of situation by peak swing normalization) that the experiment that Fig. 8 D shows three kinds of Liquid-liquid lens system structures shown in Fig. 8 A to Fig. 8 C records, wherein provides the harmonic wave of 3 volts of amplitudes to input to electromagnetic driver.The array showing the less driver of driving significantly increases whole system frequency response, that is, by using the array of less driver can obtain significantly higher resonant frequency.Such as, driven by little droplet array, can obtain more than 30Hz(with scan corresponding 60 times per second for focal length each in scope) resonant frequency.Achieve the good consistance between the experiment of Liquid-liquid camera lens and theoretical model.
Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the formation method adopting vibration liquid lens as described herein.Formation method 900 comprises: the fixing contact drop vibration 910 making Liquid-liquid camera lens as described herein; And while vibration Liquid-liquid camera lens, take one or more image 920 by fluctuating liquid drop.Particularly, take one or more image by the first droplet part of drop and the second droplet part, the first droplet part and the second droplet part extend the first and second surfaces of substrate respectively, and the passage that wherein there is drop is limited by substrate.Shooting image is transferred to controller, and controller comprises (in one embodiment) has logical circuit to carry out the computing machine of assessment 930 to shooting image based on one or more graphics standard (such as, image definition).Those skilled in the art use conventional images analysis software easily can complete the assessment of digital picture to a certain extent.Then, select one or more shooting image as one or more final image 940 based on assessment.Depend on embodiment, the 3-D that final image can be combined into object represents.
Those skilled in the art will notice: fixing the contact described herein and Liquid-liquid camera lens of vibration provides the new solution of seeking the fast-changing imaging system of focal length.Noninvasive can be utilized to vibrate driving method with little and lightweight package to manufacture liquid lens, as described in this article.Advantageously, relatively small voltage level can be used for actuating mechanism, thus makes the application of Liquid-liquid camera lens become practical.
Disclosed herein is the Liquid-liquid camera lens of the vibration focal length with any image surface can taken in given hunting range.The feature of camera lens is two the droplet parts with the fixing osculatory near non-wetting substrate be coupled by cylindrical channel (or hole).Incoercible second liquid surrounds liquid lens in closed chamber.Non-intruding electromagnetic driver can be used for making the ferrofluid of the coupling in substrate in the second cylindrical channel (or hole) drip vibration.The vibration that ferrofluid drips causes the corresponding vibration of liquid lens droplet via incoercible surrounding liquid.The change of the curvature of droplet part causes the change of focal length.The relative curvature of droplet produces and makes system become the power of the elastic-like power of nature oscillator.Because image taking timing is electronics, therefore it is able to quick realization, makes the frequency response of camera lens only be subject to the restriction of the resonant frequency of system.The liquid lens proposed is the droplet system of coupling, and the droplet system of coupling can be made with very little input to vibrate in resonance place.When vibrating enough fast, camera lens can be considered to always in time be in close proximity to expectation focal length; Therefore, after Liquid-liquid camera lens, propose the idea focused on fast.
Advantageously, Liquid-liquid lens construction disclosed herein is used can to obtain the aperture of centimetres.Scale is enough little make the not dominant situation of gravity under, the liquid lens (having fixing osculatory) of coupling droplet, relative to surface tension balance fluid inertia, and can make system oscillation.Experimental result shows that the camera lens of liquid lens, the even centimetres of millimeter magnitude is feasible.
Large aperture disclosed herein quick self-adapted Liquid-liquid camera lens provides unique advantage and ability relative to existing method.For the camera lens in centimetres aperture, produce more than 30Hz(namely by different driving strategy, frame-grab speed is up to 60Hz) vibration increase light assemble be possible (such as, from air, 1.68mm diameter liquid lens is to 10mm diameter Liquid-liquid camera lens, and light ability of aggregation adds 30 times).Energy efficiency is maintained, and simultaneously in the almost constant all designs of gravity orientation, eliminates the long term stability problem (such as, because evaporation) that in previous air, liquid (liquid-in-air) lens design is traditionally perplexed.
Those skilled in the art will notice: coupling droplet lens system in this paper can be applicable to, in a lot of application, comprise mobile phone, video camera and have other little lightweight consumer products of video recording capabilities.Other application comprises high-speed adaptive imaging, camcorder and for less other 3-D image reproducing by lens array and reconfigurability requiring application (focusing on energy consumption).Such as, other application comprises for the autonomous minute vehicle scouted and defend, and it will be benefited from perhaps multidirectional and be not only the imaging capability of look straight ahead (or below).The relative small size of the Liquid-liquid camera lens proposed and higher-energy efficiency are suitable for these camera lenses several to be installed in aircraft little like this, to be embodied as picture along all directions always.
As the skilled person will appreciate, the various aspects of above-mentioned controller may be embodied as system, method or computer program.Therefore, the various aspects of controller can be the form of complete hardware embodiment, the completely embodiment (being usually all called " circuit ", " module " or " system " herein) of software implementation (comprising firmware, resident software, microcode etc.) or integration software and hardware aspect.In addition, the various aspects of controller can in the form of the computer program be included in one or more computer-readable medium (having the computer readable program code comprised thereon).
Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium can be adopted.Computer-readable medium can be computer-readable recording medium.Computer-readable recording medium can be such as but be not limited to electronics, magnetic, optics or semiconductor system, equipment or device, or above-mentioned any suitable combination.The more specifically example (non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable recording medium comprises as follows: have the electrical connection of one or more electric wire, portable computer diskette, hard disk, random-access memory (ram), ROM (read-only memory) (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory EPROM (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, portable optic disk ROM (read-only memory) (CD-ROM), light storage device, magnetic memory apparatus or above-mentioned any suitable combination.In the context of the literature, computer-readable recording medium can be comprise or store any tangible medium by the program that instruction execution system, equipment or device use or and instruction executive system, equipment or device are combined.
Computer-readable signal media can comprise such as using base band or the data-signal propagated as a part for carrier wave, and wherein computer readable program code is included in the data-signal of propagation.Any one during such transmitting signal can take various forms, includes but not limited to electromagnetism, optics or its any suitable combination.Computer-readable signal media can be non-computer-readable recording medium but can communicate, propagates or transmit by any computer-readable medium of the program that instruction execution system, equipment or device use or and instruction executive system, equipment or device are combined.
The program code comprised on a computer-readable medium can transmit by using suitable medium, and described suitable medium includes but not limited to wireless, wired, fiber optic cables, RF etc., or above-mentioned any suitable combination.
Can write the computer program code of the operation for performing various aspects of the present invention with any combination of one or more programming language, described programming language comprises Object-Oriented Programming Language (such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ etc.) and conventional program programming language (such as " C " programming language or similar programming language).
Above with reference to illustrate according to the process flow diagram of the method for the embodiment of the present invention, equipment (system) and computer program and/or block diagram is described to various aspects of the present invention.Illustrate and/or some square frame of block diagram it is to be appreciated that: implementing procedure figure can be carried out by computer program instructions, and the combination of square frame in process flow diagram diagram and/or block diagram.These computer program instructions can be supplied to the processor of multi-purpose computer, special purpose computer or other programmable data processing device to produce machine, and the instruction that the processor via computing machine or other programmable data processing device is performed produces the means of the function/action of specifying in the square frame for implementing procedure figure and/or block diagram.
These computer program instructions can also be stored in the computer-readable medium that computing machine, other programmable data processing device or other device can be instructed to work in a specific way, make the instruction be stored in computer-readable medium can produce the goods of the instruction of the function/action of specifying in the square frame comprising implementing procedure figure and/or block diagram.
Computer program instructions can also be loaded on computing machine, other programmable data processing device or other device, with perform on computing machine, other programmable device or other device a series of can operation steps, thus produce computing machine and realize process, the process of the function/action of specifying in the square frame making the instruction performed on computing machine or other programmable device provide for implementing procedure figure and/or block diagram.
Process flow diagram in accompanying drawing and block diagram show system according to various embodiments of the invention, the structure of possible embodiment of method and computer program product, functional and operation.In this regard, in process flow diagram or block diagram, some square frame can the module of representative code, sections or part, and it comprises the one or more executable instructions for implementing specified.Should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the function mentioned in square frame can occur not in accordance with the order described in accompanying drawing.Such as, in fact can perform two square frames illustrated continuously substantially simultaneously, or sometimes perform these square frames in reverse order, this depends on relate to functional.Also by it is to be noted that: in block diagram and/or process flow diagram some square frame illustrated and block diagram and/or process flow diagram diagram, the combination of square frame can be implemented by execution specific function or the hardware based dedicated system of action or the combination of specialized hardware and computer instruction.
Term used herein is only used to the object describing specific embodiment, instead of is intended to limit the present invention.As used in this article, singulative " " and " described " are also intended to comprise plural form, unless context is clearly pointed out in addition.It will also be understood that: term " comprises ", " having " and " comprising " is open copulative verb.Therefore, the method for " comprising ", " having " or " comprising " one or more step or element or device have those one or more step or elements, but are not limited to only have those one or more step or elements.Equally, the step of method of " comprising ", " having " or " comprising " one or more feature or the element of device have those one or more features, but are not limited to only have those one or more features.In addition, the device configured in some way or structure are configured at least in like fashion, but can also be configured in ways that are not listed.
The corresponding construction of all means in claims or the additional function element of step, material, action and equivalent (if yes) are intended to comprise any structure of other the claimed combination of elements n-back test protected with specific requirement, material or action.In order to the object illustrating and illustrate, provide description of the invention, but be not intended to or restriction the present invention exhaustive with disclosed form.When not deviating from scope and spirit of the present invention, many modification and change will be apparent for those of ordinary skills.

Claims (25)

1. a liquid lens, comprising:
Substrate, it is included at least one passage extending through described substrate between the first surface of described substrate and second surface;
Comprise the drop of first liquid, described drop is arranged in a passage in the middle of at least one passage described extending through described substrate, described drop comprises the first droplet part and the second droplet part, described first droplet part has from the first outstanding capillary surface of the described first surface of described substrate, described second droplet part has from the second outstanding capillary surface of the described second surface of described substrate, and described first droplet part and described second droplet part are by a described expanding channels;
Shell, it surrounds described substrate at least in part and comprises chamber, and the described passage in the middle of at least one passage described extending through described substrate is positioned at the described chamber of described shell;
Be arranged in the second liquid in described chamber, described second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in described chamber with the described drop comprising described first liquid; And
Driver, its described drop for vibrating in a described passage.
2. liquid lens according to claim 1, the described first surface of wherein said substrate is conducive to the first chamber portion limiting described chamber, and the described second surface of described substrate is conducive to the second chamber portion limiting described chamber, and wherein said second liquid essence fills described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion.
3. liquid lens according to claim 2, wherein said second liquid directly contacts in described first chamber portion with the described drop comprising described first liquid, and directly contacts in described second chamber portion.
4. liquid lens according to claim 1, wherein said driver is operatively coupled to the described drop in a described passage via the described second liquid be arranged in the described chamber of described shell.
5. liquid lens according to claim 1, wherein said driver comprises oscillator, be coupled to described oscillator operation at least one in the described first droplet part of described drop or described second droplet part, for the described drop vibration made in a described passage, wherein said oscillator allows the described drop in a described passage to vibrate continuously or off and on, and therefore allows the described first droplet part of described drop and described second droplet partial continuous or vibrate off and on.
6. liquid lens according to claim 1, wherein said second liquid directly contacts with the described drop comprising described first liquid and incompatible.
7. liquid lens according to claim 6, the described passage wherein extending through described substrate is the first passage extending through described substrate, and the described first surface of wherein said substrate is conducive to the first chamber portion limiting described chamber, and the described second surface of described substrate is conducive to the second chamber portion limiting described chamber, described second liquid essence fills described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion, and wherein said driver comprises:
At least one ferrofluid drips, it is arranged in and extends through at least one second channel of described substrate between the described first surface and described second surface of described substrate, when at least one ferrofluid described drop in vibrate between described first chamber portion of described chamber and described second chamber portion time, at least one ferrofluid described drips and described drop is moved in described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion of described chamber; And
Electromagnetic driver, it drips vibration at least one ferrofluid described in making at least one second channel described, and therefore makes the described drop vibration in described first passage.
8. liquid lens according to claim 7, wherein said driver comprises and is arranged in the multiple ferrofluids extended through in multiple second channels of described substrate between the described first surface and described second surface of described substrate and drips, the volume that each ferrofluid during wherein said multiple ferrofluid drips drips is less than the volume of the described drop extended through in the described first passage of described substrate, when described multiple ferrofluid drop in vibrate between described first chamber portion of described chamber and described second chamber portion time, described multiple ferrofluid drips and described drop is moved in described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion of described chamber.
9. liquid lens according to claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic driver is the first electromagnetic driver, and wherein said driver also comprises the second electromagnetic driver, described first electromagnetic driver makes at least one ferrofluid described at least one second channel described drip vibration together with described second electromagnetic driver, and therefore makes the described drop vibration in described first passage.
10. liquid lens according to claim 1, wherein said first liquid comprises high-index fluid, and described second liquid comprises water.
11. liquid lens according to claim 1, wherein select described first liquid, described second liquid and described substrate with the edge being conducive to making described drop remain fixed in described substrate is positioned at a described passage.
12. liquid lens according to claim 1, wherein said shell comprise at least be arranged in described drop described first droplet part or described second droplet part on clear shell portion, and wherein said chamber is sealed chamber.
13. 1 kinds of imaging systems, described imaging system comprises:
Liquid lens, it comprises:
Substrate, it is included at least one passage extending through described substrate between the first surface of described substrate and second surface;
Comprise the drop of first liquid, described drop is arranged in a passage in the middle of at least one passage described extending through described substrate, described drop comprises the first droplet part and the second droplet part, described first droplet part has from the first outstanding capillary surface of the described first surface of described substrate, described second droplet part has from the second outstanding capillary surface of the described second surface of described substrate, and described first droplet part and described second droplet part are by a described expanding channels;
Shell, it surrounds described substrate at least in part and comprises chamber, and the described passage in the middle of at least one passage described extending through described substrate is positioned at the described chamber of described shell;
Be arranged in the second liquid in described chamber, described second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in described chamber with the described drop comprising described first liquid; With
Driver, it extends through the described drop in a described passage of described substrate for vibrating; And
Described imaging system also comprises:
At least one imaging sensor, it is coupled at least one image path of described first droplet part through the described drop of the vibration in a described passage and described second droplet part, takes image for the described first droplet part of the described drop by vibration and described second droplet part.
14. imaging systems according to claim 13, at least one imaging sensor wherein said is operatively coupled at least one image path, in the described first droplet part of described drop and described second droplet partial continuous or take image by the described first droplet part of the described drop of vibration and described second droplet part while vibrating off and on.
15. imaging systems according to claim 13, also comprise controller, and described controller is coupled to described driver and is configured to the vibration of the described drop controlled in a described passage of described substrate.
16. imaging systems according to claim 13, wherein said liquid lens is the liquid lens of fixing contact and vibration.
17. imaging systems according to claim 13, the described first surface of wherein said substrate is conducive to the first chamber portion limiting described chamber, and the described second surface of described substrate is conducive to the second chamber portion limiting described chamber, and wherein said second liquid essence fills described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion, and wherein said second liquid directly contacts with the described drop comprising described first liquid, directly contacts and be inconsistent in described second chamber portion in described first chamber portion.
18. imaging systems according to claim 17, the described passage wherein extending through described substrate is the first passage extending through described substrate, and described driver comprises:
At least one ferrofluid drips, it is arranged in and extends through at least one second channel of described substrate between the described first surface and described second surface of described substrate, when at least one ferrofluid described drop in vibrate between described first chamber portion of described chamber and described second chamber portion time, at least one ferrofluid described drips and described drop is moved in described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion of described chamber; And
Electromagnetic driver, it drips vibration at least one ferrofluid described in making at least one second channel described, and therefore makes the described drop vibration in described first passage.
19. imaging systems according to claim 13, wherein said shell comprises the clear shell portion in the described first droplet part or described second droplet part being arranged in described drop at least one, and wherein said chamber is sealed chamber.
20. 1 kinds of formation methods, it comprises step:
The drop of liquid lens is vibrated, described liquid lens comprises substrate, described substrate defines the passage extended between its first surface and second surface, described drop is placed in described passage, described drop comprises the first droplet part and the second droplet part, described first droplet part comprises from the first outstanding capillary surface of the described first surface of described substrate, described second droplet part comprises from the second outstanding capillary surface of the described second surface of described substrate, the described first droplet part of wherein said drop and described second droplet part are by described expanding channels, described liquid lens also comprises shell, described shell surrounds described substrate at least in part and comprises chamber, a passage is positioned at described chamber, and described chamber comprises second liquid, described second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in described chamber with the described drop comprising first liquid, and at least one that wherein said oscillation step comprises to described first droplet part or described second droplet part applies oscillation force to vibrate to the described drop in described passage, and
Image path through the described first droplet part of described drop or at least one of described second droplet part takes at least one image.
21. formation methods according to claim 20, also comprise step:
Multiple image is taken by the described first droplet part of described drop of vibration and described second droplet part;
Captured image is assessed based at least one graphics standard; And
Select image captured by least one as final image based on described assessment.
22. formation methods according to claim 21, wherein said shooting step occurs in the whole oscillation period of the described liquid lens of vibration, and described appraisal procedure comprises and selects at least one focusedimage from described multiple image.
23. 1 kinds of methods manufacturing liquid lens, it comprises step:
Obtain substrate, described substrate is non-wetting relative to drop;
At least one passage extending to second surface from the first surface of described substrate is provided in described substrate;
Extending through the described drop containing first liquid of providing package in the middle of at least one passage described in described substrate passage, described drop comprises the first droplet part and the second droplet part, described first droplet part has from the first outstanding capillary surface of the described first surface of described substrate, described second droplet part has from the second outstanding capillary surface of the described second surface of described substrate, and described first droplet part and described second droplet part are by a described expanding channels;
The shell comprising chamber is provided, described chamber closes the described passage extending through described substrate, the described first surface of described substrate is conducive to the first chamber portion limiting described chamber, the described second surface of described substrate is conducive to the second chamber portion limiting described chamber, wherein said first droplet part is arranged in described first chamber portion of described chamber, and described second droplet part is arranged in described second chamber portion of described chamber; And
In described first chamber portion second liquid being placed in described chamber and described second chamber portion, described second liquid directly contacts or indirect contact in described chamber with described drop.
24. methods according to claim 23, also comprise at least one in the described first droplet part or described second droplet part driver being operatively coupled to the described drop in a described passage, for the described drop of vibration, and the described first droplet part of the described drop that therefore vibrates and described second droplet part, the described drop that wherein vibrates is conducive at different focal place by described liquid lens shooting image.
25. methods according to claim 24, wherein said second liquid directly contacts with the described drop comprising described first liquid and incompatible, and the described passage extending through described substrate is the first passage extending through described substrate, and the described first surface of wherein said substrate is conducive to the first chamber portion limiting described chamber, and the described second surface of described substrate is conducive to the second chamber portion limiting described chamber, described second liquid essence fills described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion, and the step of the described driver that is wherein operatively coupled comprises:
At least one ferrofluid is provided to drip, being dripped by least one ferrofluid described to be placed between the described first surface of described substrate and described second surface extends through at least one second channel of described substrate, when at least one ferrofluid described drop in vibrate between described first chamber portion of described chamber and described second chamber portion time, at least one ferrofluid described drips and described drop is moved in described first chamber portion and described second chamber portion of described chamber; And
There is provided electromagnetic driver, described electromagnetic driver drips at least one ferrofluid described vibrated at least one second channel described, and the described drop in described first passage that therefore vibrates.
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